Comparative Study of Solid-Based and Liquid-Based Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques in Liquid Piston Gas Compression

Barah Ahn, Macey Schmetzer and Paul I. Ro ()
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Barah Ahn: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
Macey Schmetzer: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
Paul I. Ro: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-20

Abstract: The combination of a liquid piston gas compressor and a solid metal insert can achieve a near-isothermal compression process, which can greatly contribute to improving the system efficiency of a compressed-air energy storage system. To examine the effectiveness of the insert at various pressure levels, compressions were performed in a liquid piston compressor with and without copper wire mesh inserts at three different pressures of 1, 2, and 3 bars. The use of inserts increased isothermal compression efficiencies by 8–10% from the baseline isothermal efficiencies about 83–87%, while the compromised air volume due to the inserts was minor. In addition to the solid insert-based technique analysis, a comparative study with other proven liquid-based heat transfer enhancement techniques, spray injection and aqueous foam, was performed. Not only was a quantitative analysis made comparing the isothermal efficiency values but the pros and cons of each technique’s distinctive working mechanisms were also compared.

Keywords: compressed air energy storage; liquid piston; heat transfer enhancement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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